The Trump administration crossed yet another line in its campaign to undermine basic American institutions. In blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, Vice President Mike Pence raised partisanship to a new and dangerous level (“Pence accuses Congress of playing politics with military pay,” Jan. 21). A lie on its face, since military pay would have been delayed only if the closure went beyond Feb. 1.

Democrats in fact introduced a measure to continue paychecks during the shutdown. It was U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell who rejected that. Even White House budget director Mick Mulvaney acknowledged that troops were all but certain to be paid.

So, I ask you, how does such a lame attempt to politicize our military advance our nation’s goals? Does sowing divisiveness amongst our soldiers serve a patriotic purpose?

Unfortunately, this sort of behavior is consistent with an administration that has repeatedly demonstrated its willingness to sacrifice American values for personal and political ends.

— Jerry Ross, Chelmsford

State workers defended

In regards to Howie Carr’s claims of outrageous salaries for state employees: Who is he to complain about inflated salaries (“Amherst hacks top state payroll,” Jan. 17)?

Carr has made hundreds of thousands of dollars annually from writing his newspaper column and talking on the radio. I would argue that running a world-class university system, for example, is a “slightly” more important job.

Many of us have benefited from our state university system. The salaries are in line with those in most of academia — including those of the top coaches.

Carr’s column is a good example of the pot calling the kettle black.

— Mary T. Connolly, Dedham

Stop the Trump hate

Of late, the Herald’s editorial page has two flavors: hate Trump and really hate Trump. And the op-eds seem to lack any diversity other than the level of vitriol directed at President Trump.

For example, the Herald republished U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake’s (R-Ariz.) speech comparing the president’s rhetoric with that of Joseph Stalin (“Reckless assault on press a danger to democracy,” Jan. 18).

It’s true that the Red Sox, for many years, have “ruined my summah.” But now the Herald’s opinion pages have succeeded in ruining my morning ritual of enjoying the Herald and a great cup of coffee.

— Richard Pease, Leominster

Reform Social Security

Early in his second term, President George W. Bush urged Congress to take up entitlement reform, arguing that the impending retirement of the baby boom generation would pressure Social Security’s finances (“Social Security, health care busting U.S. budget,” Jan. 16). Democrats fought him tooth and nail.

In his op-ed, Charles Blahous noted that, “The Congressional Budget Office projects that the largest single entitlement program, Social Security, will spend $988 billion this year, by itself far more than all nonmilitary discretionary spending combined.”

Failure to restrain this growth in entitlement spending will bankrupt us. Any member of Congress who has repeatedly refused to consider reforming these programs should be removed from office.